Final answer:
To reduce the force needed to move a lever, you can apply the force further from the axis, move the resistance closer to the fulcrum, or decrease the resistance itself. All of these methods will lessen the effort required.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reduce the amount of force needed to move a lever, you could do any one of the following:
- Move the resistance closer to the axis (fulcrum).
- Apply the force further from the axis.
- Decrease the amount of resistance.
All of the above actions would result in a decrease in the force required to move the lever. Levers work on the principle of moments where the product of the force and the distance from the fulcrum (moment arm) is what's important. By increasing the distance of the applied force from the fulcrum (lever's axis), you increase the moment arm, which increases the torque (rotational force) for the same amount of force. Consequently, the force needed to achieve the same torque is lessened. Additionally, if the resistance (the mass or weight to be moved) is closer to the fulcrum or is decreased, less force is needed to overcome it.